Please correct me if I am wrong!!!!

[Martyshk 137]

because Kherson has no flights... it is not a choice

Can fly to Simferopol or Odessa though, if one really needs to. Might be easier to get on a train, or even "elektrichka" from there.

But seriously though. Taking a train that's going to Crimea (and I think ones from Kiev to Simferopol still pass through Kherson) in the middle of summer is going to be pretty crazy no matter what.

[JVF 0]

Alternative route:

Take a taxi from Kherson to Odessa (~3-3.5 hours ride). Or, if you want to save some money take a bus or minibus (marshrutka). That should not cost you more then 100 grivnas. Then you can take a plane from Odessa to Kiev (about 45-50 min). I think there are 3 planes flying daily from Odessa to Kiev.

[payxibka 10,047]

Can fly to Simferopol or Odessa though, if one really needs to. Might be easier to get on a train, or even "elektrichka" from there.

But seriously though. Taking a train that's going to Crimea (and I think ones from Kiev to Simferopol still pass through Kherson) in the middle of summer is going to be pretty crazy no matter what.

FWIW... Kherson is not an "electichka" line... From Odessa to Kherson you go about half way and then they change engines at a stopover to diesels... believe me... done this many times...

[Martyshk 137]

FWIW... Kherson is not an "electichka" line... From Odessa to Kherson you go about half way and then they change engines at a stopover to diesels... believe me... done this many times...

For some reason I thought it had an "elektrichka" route.

In any case, there's ways to get around in Ukraine if one really wants to and has the means.

[cranehand 0]

Looks like no problem if she can purchase tickets about a week out She will be giong to Kyiv Mon 7-12 for med, One more step down

[Casper&Diana 0]

Gary's right about the extra cash goes a long way toward finding tickets on a "sold out" train! Two weeks ago Diana and I had no trouble getting tickets on the train from Donetsk to Kiev but Kiev back to DOK was full. #######? Fortunately, Diana has a friend at the main office in Kiev and for a mere 25% extra fee (~$20 to reserve the whole 2nd Class car for the three of us) we were on our way.

Diana says that the workers in Kiev pay a small amount of money to reserve the seats and then sell them off for a premium. Gotta love it!

One more funny UA story: So, we had three boxes full of Diana's stuff to ship back via UPS (through my company I get a great rate). The courier shows up to fetch the boxes and I have all the forms filled out and my account number for payment. The courier asks for another 500 Hrv (~$65) for 'customs.' I asked whose customs? US or UA? UA the courier says. I said that's ridiculous. You don't pay customs duty leaving a country, only entering. He was insistent. Fine, I said, put it on my account. No, has to be cash. I see, can I have a receipt? No.

And Last--Tuesday went to the Social Security Admin to get Diana an SSN. While we are filling out the forms Diana leans over and whispers, that's the first government worker I've met in my life who smiled! Yeah, I said, and we don't even have to pay an handling fee!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Gary's right about the extra cash goes a long way toward finding tickets on a "sold out" train! Two weeks ago Diana and I had no trouble getting tickets on the train from Donetsk to Kiev but Kiev back to DOK was full. #######? Fortunately, Diana has a friend at the main office in Kiev and for a mere 25% extra fee (~$20 to reserve the whole 2nd Class car for the three of us) we were on our way.

Diana says that the workers in Kiev pay a small amount of money to reserve the seats and then sell them off for a premium. Gotta love it!

One more funny UA story: So, we had three boxes full of Diana's stuff to ship back via UPS (through my company I get a great rate). The courier shows up to fetch the boxes and I have all the forms filled out and my account number for payment. The courier asks for another 500 Hrv (~$65) for 'customs.' I asked whose customs? US or UA? UA the courier says. I said that's ridiculous. You don't pay customs duty leaving a country, only entering. He was insistent. Fine, I said, put it on my account. No, has to be cash. I see, can I have a receipt? No.

And Last--Tuesday went to the Social Security Admin to get Diana an SSN. While we are filling out the forms Diana leans over and whispers, that's the first government worker I've met in my life who smiled! Yeah, I said, and we don't even have to pay an handling fee!

Receipt!!!!!!

The question is, did the SS clerk get her SSN right? I took Sergey last week for his SS number. He got his Green card three days before leaving last year and it was a holiday weekend, so we had no chance to do so before he left. So we go in with the green card and his Vermont drivers permit and the clerk says he needs a "Ukrainian passport". Vooowhat? "Yes, to show which visa he entered with" Vooooooooowhat!!!??? He is a permanent resident, he does not have a visa! Sergey then added..."but I had a K-2 visa" The clerk says "See, a K-2 cannot get a SSN until they have a green card" VOOOOOOOOOOOWHATTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!! HE HAS A GREEN CARD... IT IS IN YOUR HAND!!!!!!!!!!! At this point I am beginning to think the world has spun off its axis and has turned into a complete crazy house! I am SURE of it!

Sorry, no, read your guide! I pulled one from the display on the desk. He had to go check with his supervisor (who would believe what the SSA says in their own instructions?) He came back a moment later and said, "Sorry, my bad"

Glad you got back OK Casper. Your son cannot get an SSN until he has a green card or EAD.

How is he doing? I know it is only a week, but what does he think so far?